Ireland Snub Handshakes With Israel, Win Nations League Tie 3-0

Ireland's national team beat Israel 3-0 in a UEFA Nations League fixture held in Debrecen, Hungary, and the squad wore black armbands, lowered their heads while Israel's anthem played, and declined to shake hands with the opposing players.¹⁴

On the pitch

Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 13th minute, with Adam Idah adding a second three minutes later and Jack Moylan sealing the win in the 25th minute, kissing his armband and the FAI emblem after scoring. Dara O'Shea, Ireland's captain, greeted the match officials with a handshake but avoided doing so with Israel's captain, Manor Solomon.¹⁴⁶

The stadium in Debrecen was almost empty, with a small group of Israeli fans present who reportedly booed Irish players during the pre-match warm-up. Around 10 spectators without team colours were seen celebrating when Parrott scored. A clash between Idah and Israel's Raz Shlomo around the hour mark led to both players being booked by referee Harm Osmers.¹⁶

A player steps aside

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the Irish squad before the match, citing his belief that killing innocent people is wrong. According to Al Jazeera, Bazunu told teammates he did not want to play, after which the squad held a lengthy meeting and voted to fulfil the fixture regardless. According to Al Jazeera, Bazunu was the sole player to ultimately opt out, pulling out of both matches in the tie, including the rematch set for October 4 in Backa Topola, Serbia.³⁴⁷⁶

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said, "we are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide," and described the build-up as difficult for the squad. According to Al Jazeera, he acknowledged that some players were "really uncomfortable" playing against Israel, and reports suggested eight Ireland players had voted against playing the fixture.⁶³

Pressure at home

The fixture faced sustained opposition inside Ireland over Israel's conduct in Gaza, according to ESPN. Al Jazeera reported a wave of pub boycotts, with Peadar Browns owner Aidan Brown compiling a list of more than 140 pubs and bars declining to screen the game, and more than 160 Irish sportspeople signing an open letter urging the squad to boycott the fixtures. A poll cited by Al Jazeera found 76 percent of Irish football supporters opposed to the match proceeding, and 63 percent of Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland members voted against playing Israel.⁴³

The Football Association of Ireland had voted in July to proceed with the fixtures despite member opposition, and Al Jazeera reported that the FAI's own membership later voted 93 percent in favour of seeking Israel's suspension from UEFA, a suspension vote reported for November. FAI chief executive David Courell said Ireland had asked UEFA to keep the two countries apart in the draw, recalling the response he received: "The answer I got was very clear: that would not be possible because Ireland and Israel have never been in direct conflict."³⁷

Reaction from Israel

Israeli captain Manor Solomon responded to the Irish players' conduct, saying, "Obviously they hate us. We don't like them," he continued, saying he was "waiting for the next game against them." Fellow player Daniel Peretz remarked about the Irish team, "They expressed a view without understanding the situation. That's on them; they are grown-ups." Per South Korea's SBS News, the Israel Football Association had already criticized Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson a week prior to the match.⁵⁶